Question Number: 16644

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/11/2007

RE: Select Under 9

Vincent DeLuca of Manalapan, NJ US asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15936

What consitutes legal physical contact? At what point does it become a pushing foul? Is leveraging with a raised arm considered pushing?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Legal physical contact is shoulder to shoulder when the ball is in close enough proximity to be played immediately after the contact. If contact is initiated by moving away from the ball, i.e., leaving it to attack an opponent this is foul play. The act of using hands or arms to create space to in order to play the ball is foul play in all cases, though at advanced levels of competition the players themselves accept this is "fair play" and the referee should understand they consider it trifling and not intervene. These kinds of trifling offences do tend to pile up so the referee should be aware when players have grown tired of them. It is also recommended these offences be counted toward persistent infringement of the Laws of the Game, an offence for which the guilty player is cautioned and shown the yellow card.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

When the referee decides that it is careless, reckless, or excessive force. Plain and simple. As Mr. Fleischer states different levels may mean different decisions by the referee. Stretching an arm to prevent a player from movement is holding and should be called. Sometimes though the players may view calling it everytime an arm is out stretched as trifiling. A good referee will recognize the line between acceptable play and not acceptable play for that game. Remember that all games are different.